Modi slams Srinivasan for Sahara ouster

New Delhi: Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi on Saturday blamed BCCI President N Srinivasan's arrogant style of functioning for Sahara Group's decision to snap all the ties with the Cricket Board.

Sahara India on Saturday ended its 11-year-old sponsorship ties with the BCCI and also pulled out of the IPL by withdrawing from Pune Warriors' ownership, hours before IPL-V auction.

Modi said it was a black day for Indian cricket and criticised the behaviour of the BCCI big wigs.

"Sahara termination - shows how unhappy the major sponsor and franchise owner is with the way BCCI deals with its partners. This is really a sad day. Sahara has been sports biggest supporter and pillar," Modi wrote on his twitter page.

"Its a black day for Indian Cricket. All due to One ego maniac. Wonder how we allow that to continue. It will ruin cricket completely," read another tweet.

"All I can say is that whenever sports was in trouble - we could always count on Sahara being there. They were one solid company one could always bank on coming thru," he added.

"When another Team owner, is a state association President, BCCI President and just showed that he controls ICC thru his clout. And does things only in favour of himself.

This was bound to happen."

Modi was critical of Srinivasan's style of functioning and felt that he should relinquish his post.

"Bcci President needs to go. He has no concept of taking people along. The Fans, Players, Sponsors, Franchisee owners, are the people who make us what we are. And they need to be listened too. Not shunned away," he added.

"Bcci has made all posts redundant in bcci and want to do the same in icc. They want only one door to be opened for cricket. That door has a Plate on it N Srinivasan. Owner Csk, President TNCA, President BCCI, controller ICC," he added.